Maoist rebels blow up bus by detonating landmine, killing five in restive Indian state a week before it goes to the polls
- The rebels have been fighting the government for more than four decades, have thousands of fighters and control vast swathes of territory in several Indian states
Maoist rebels killed five people including a paramilitary soldier on Thursday by detonating a landmine under a bus in a restive central Indian state where legislative elections are to be held next week
It was the second attack in Chhattisgarh inside 10 days and came just a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state where he will be campaigning for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, according to senior police officer D.M. Awasthi.
Mineral-rich Chhattisgarh goes to the polls on Monday with a second round on November 20 – the election has been staggered because of the security situation.
The Maoist rebels, inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been fighting the Indian government for more than four decades, demanding land and jobs for tenant farmers, the poor and indigenous communities. They have thousands of fighters and control vast swathes of territory in several Indian states.
The bus was coming down a hill when it hit a landmine
The latest attack occurred in Dantewada district, a Maoist stronghold where the guerillas killed two policemen and a journalist on October 30.